The | Young Pope Season 1 ((free))
Sorrentino films Law like a fashion icon. The close-ups are brutal. We see the pores, the ice-blue eyes, the curl of smoke from his lips. Yet, Law injects a palpable vulnerability. In one of the season's most famous scenes, Pope Pius XIII delivers a homily to an empty St. Peter’s Square, shouting "God is not a genie!" while his voice cracks. Law manages to make arrogance feel tragic.
Luca Bigazzi’s cinematography bathes the Vatican gardens and ancient halls in a hyper-real, almost dreamlike light. Because the Vatican refused permission to shoot on-site, the production meticulously reconstructed the Sistine Chapel and various papal apartments at Cinecittà Studios in Rome. The result is a spectacular, opulent visual feast that feels entirely authentic. An Unconventional Soundtrack
When The Young Pope Season 1 premiered in 2016, it did not simply walk onto the television landscape; it glided across the Vatican gardens in a cloud of incense and cigarette smoke, leaving viewers bewildered, offended, and utterly mesmerized. Created by Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino ( The Great Beauty ), this HBO-Sky-France Ô co-production is less a traditional religious drama and more a philosophical art-house fever dream.
The pious wife of a Swiss Guard. Her interactions with Lenny lead to some of the season's most miraculous and tender moments, breaking through the Pope's icy exterior. Conclusion and Legacy The Young Pope Season 1
Television rarely reaches the cinematic heights achieved by Sorrentino and cinematographer Luca Bigazzi in Season 1. The Vatican—rebuilt meticulously on sets at Cinecittà Studios—is treated as a character of its own. High-contrast lighting, slow-motion walks through Renaissance gardens, and symmetry emphasize both the grandeur and the stifling isolation of the Papacy.
To discuss The Young Pope without highlighting its visual and auditory identity is to miss half of its brilliance. Paolo Sorrentino brings his signature cinematic style—honed in films like The Great Beauty —to the small screen. Working with cinematographer Luca Bigazzi, Sorrentino transforms the Vatican (meticulously reconstructed via sets and Italian villas) into a dreamscape of hyper-saturated colors, stark geometry, and shifting shadows.
The Young Pope Season 1 received critical acclaim for its visual style, acting, and unique tone, setting the stage for the follow-up series, The New Pope (2020), which continues the exploration of Vatican power dynamics. Sorrentino films Law like a fashion icon
The Young Pope Season 1 succeeded because it refused to take the easy route. It was neither an anti-religious screed nor a pious piece of propaganda. Instead, it treated faith with immense gravity, wrapped inside a stylish, witty, and deeply human package. It paved the way for its follow-up series, The New Pope , and cemented its place as one of the most unique television achievements of its era.
While Lenny dominates, the ensemble is flawless.
The ultimate Vatican insider. Voiello is a master politician obsessed with Napoli soccer and institutional survival. Initially Lenny’s chief antagonist, his character arc is beautifully complex, shifting from a corrupt schemer to a man who genuinely cares for the stability of the Church and the welfare of the vulnerable. Yet, Law injects a palpable vulnerability
Using psychological warfare, public shame, and a cunning understanding of Vatican politics, Lenny systematically dismantles the established power structures, isolating his rivals and demanding unquestioning loyalty. As the series progresses, the focus shifts inward. The hard exterior begins to crack, revealing a deeply wounded, lonely individual, shaped by abandonment and a profound spiritual crisis. The season takes viewers on a journey from cold manipulation to a surprisingly vulnerable and hopeful conclusion.
The brilliance of the first season lies in its rich character studies and the claustrophobic, political ecosystem of the Vatican.
